Earl Williams, 87, a greeter at the Silver Grill Cafe in Old Town, passed away Wednesday, March 20, 2013. / Courtesy of John Arnolfo

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Earl Williams, 87, left this world the same way he lived in it: quietly, humbly and without fanfare.

The beloved Silver Grill restaurant greeter, who previously worked as a greeter for 23 years at the Arby’s on South College Avenue in Fort Collins before it closed in 2011, died Wednesday after a short illness. He worked his usual shifts at the cafe up until the very end — just the way he wanted it, said Silver Grill owner John Arnolfo.

“Earl and I had talked a little bit about his death, and he told me he was ready for it,” he said. “But he’s going to be very, very missed.”

In a previous story on his transition to Silver Grill, Williams had told the Coloradoan that it was “good to be here” at the Silver Grill, and that he’d keep working there “as long as I can or until I win the lottery, then I’ll take another look at it.”

Williams got his wish, working his final shift at the eatery Monday before he became ill and quietly slipped into the hospital. He had planned to come back to work the next day — initially hiding his illness from his Silver Grill coworkers because he wanted to work. Arnolfo said his tireless work ethic and gentle demeanor will be sorely missed.

“Obviously, it’s very, very sad for us,” he said. “He was that kind face you met when you first walked into the Silver Grill, and over the years he became an integral part of this community.”

Williams requested no funeral but asked that his body be shipped back to Rittman, Ohio, to be buried next to his wife at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery with military honors. Vessey Funeral Services, (970) 482-5065, is accepting donations to help with burial costs.

A small memorial at his usual Silver Grill table at the entrance to the restaurant will honor his memory for the next month or so, Arnolfo said.

“He was a very private man and didn’t want a lot of fanfare,” he said. “He went quietly, just as he wanted to and he worked until the day he died... . He was a very kind man.”